Safe Standing

[djg145]

It isn't a question of making those who want to stand happier, it is a question of making those who stand and those around them who sit safer. Rail 'seating' gives everybody who stands a rail in front of them to stop them falling forward and down the terracing. As things are, falling forward from a standing position most likely means falling onto the seats in front and their occupants. The added attraction of safe standing is that if the seats are locked in the up position so that they cannot be sat on, then the capacity of those rows can be increased - something that Argyle doesn't need at the moment. The converse is that the seats can be locked in the down position, provided there is room to pass in front of them. The old terraces have/had barriers every so often to try to stop an avalanche of people falling forward, which was always inadequate.

Sorry I thought even with the safe standing rails in place, it would be ONE person to ONE seat space. So not sure how or why the capacity would be increased

 

[Argylegames]

The added attraction of safe standing is that if the seats are locked in the up position so that they cannot be sat on, then the capacity of those rows can be increased

Standing areas have always had a bigger capacity than seated areas. If rail seats are locked in the up position then you can fit more people into the rows, possibly 3 for every 2 seats. If the seats are in the lowered position then they are designed to be locked in the down position, making standing difficult. They are not meant to be moveable at the will of the occupant.

 

[Lundan Cabbie]

Sorry I thought even with the safe standing rails in place, it would be ONE person to ONE seat space. So not sure how or why the capacity would be increased

If you think that a group of half a dozen mates or more who have tickets for different rows and positions are going to stand in their allotted spaces then you've not thought it through. They are all going to stay together and squeeze into spaces to be together. It won't be easy for stewards to manage these situations. Many supporters already do it now despite allocated seats so they can stand together, especially away from home.

 

[djg145]

If you think that a group of half a dozen mates or more who have tickets for different rows and positions are going to stand in their allotted spaces then you've not thought it through. They are all going to stay together and squeeze into spaces to be together. It won't be easy for stewards to manage these situations. Many supporters already do it now despite allocated seats so they can stand together, especially away from home.

Well there is a severe lack of common sense. I don't get this crap, why are their people around who don't follow rules or instructions. IF people do like you say, they will spoil it for everyone, Argyle might even decided to scrap the idea totally. If some selfish ass wipes ignore any rules involved with this so called SAFE STANDING.

 

[up the line]

If you think that a group of half a dozen mates or more who have tickets for different rows and positions are going to stand in their allotted spaces then you've not thought it through. They are all going to stay together and squeeze into spaces to be together. It won't be easy for stewards to manage these situations. Many supporters already do it now despite allocated seats so they can stand together, especially away from home.

Is that what happens at the grounds where safe standing has been installed?
Not in my experience

 

[Lundan Cabbie]

Is that what happens at the grounds where safe standing has been installed?
Not in my experience

It happens where there is allocated seats. It can’t be dismissed as “it won’t happen” if there is allocated standing places.

 

[santos73]

Standing areas have always had a bigger capacity than seated areas. If rail seats are locked in the up position then you can fit more people into the rows, possibly 3 for every 2 seats. If the seats are in the lowered position then they are designed to be locked in the down position, making standing difficult. They are not meant to be moveable at the will of the occupant.

I believe that Tickets for safe standing will be sold on the basis of one ticket per seat not 3 for 2 or some other ratio. There would still be the same capacity for safe standing as for seated.

 

[Argylegames]

I believe that Tickets for safe standing will be sold on the basis of one ticket per seat not 3 for 2 or some other ratio. There would still be the same capacity for safe standing as for seated.

https://www.safestandingroadshow.co.uk/the-case-for-safe-standing/case-for-3 presents a different picture.

 

[santos73]

Section SG01 1.1, sports grounds
in England and Wales licenced under the Football Spectators Act 1989
are subject to additional compliance requirements. These include a
stipulation that no more than one spectator per seat will be permitted.)

 

[santos73]

This is the full text in Guide to Safety in Sports Grounds concerning standing in Rail seating:

Whether a ratio of more than one spectator per seat is allowed
(For a list of conditions that need to be met in order for a ratio of more
than 1:1 to be considered safe, see Section 12.22 of the Green Guide.
Note, however, that as emphasised in Section SG01 1.1, sports grounds
in England and Wales licenced under the Football Spectators Act 1989
are subject to additional compliance requirements. These include a
stipulation that no more than one spectator per seat will be permitted.)

 

[Argylegames]

The point is though, Santos73, Rail 'Seating' is not meant to be sat on that often. They are designed to be mostly locked in the up position to make safe standing areas. Some European competitions insist on all seater, which reduces the capacity available and isn't likely to effect HP in any near future. No more than one spectator is allowed per seat, but in safe standing areas there are no seats.

 

[demportdave]

Sadly, the days of fans jammed onto the terraces like sardines will never comeback.

The days of 38000 at HP or thinking of last Saturday, 16000 at Plainmoor to see Argyle in an old Division 3 game are long gone. The mini-kop stand behind the goal at what is now the Swimming Pool end would be absolutely rammed and you struggled to breathe because you were being crushed. Happy memories from the good days.

Safe seating is going to happen, it's only a matter of when but it should be happening now. Unfortunately, it's something else which has become politically sensitive so it's taking longer than it needs to.

However, safe standing will do little if anything to increase capacity and each standing space will probably be controlled and allocated as per the seats are now.

 

[Argylegames]

I can't now find the image I saw last year showing a safe standing/rail seating area with painted ticket numbers on the ground. There was one set for seated, and another set with less room for standing.